January 26 Weekly Update

Happy Friday!  Take a look at what we've been up to and learning this week!

Rational Numbers
This week mathematicians focused on developing their understandings of equivalent fractions.  We found equivalent fractions by using area models, number lines, multiplication, and division.  We have started to learn about comparing fractions.

Please remember to be practicing your math facts nightly!

Geometry
This week you helped your children learn and understand angles and unit angles.  Please remember to watch the "Visual Learning" lesson and attempt the "Convince Me" at home.  On Fridays there will be a teacher lesson followed with skill practice.

Today students are assigned their Week 3 Assignment.  This week students will be learning about Measuring with Unit Angles.  Thank you for your help and support at home!

Social Studies
This week in our Westward Expansion unit, students focused on studying about Missouri becoming a state, the Oregon Trail, and important cities to Missouri during Westward Expansion.  Students also started an Oregon Trail journal!  Ask your child to view it from their Google Classroom accounts at home!

Science
The Ninjas are currently studying their Weather and Water unit with Ms. Hof.

Reading
In reading this week, we continued to focus on researching topics around the Revolutionary War.  Students celebrated their learning with skits about their subtopics.

We are now preparing for our reenactment of the First Continental Congress and debate!  Students will be taking the perspective of a Patriot or Loyalist and arguing whether or not the colonies should declare independence.

Writing
In writing this week, students continued to draft and revise their books about the American Revolution.  We focused on elaboration within our writing pieces.

Upcoming Dates

• 1/26: PTO Movie Night
• 2/1: Library Checkout
• 2/7: Late Start; 11:05 start
• 2/9: Daddy Daughter Dance
• 2/14: Valentine Parties; 2:40-3:40
• 2/16: Records Day; No School
• 2/19: No School

Weekly Update - January 19

Happy Friday!  Here is what we've been up to this week...

Math
In our Ration Numbers unit, we continued to develop big ideas about fractions such as:

• the size of the whole matters
• the smaller the denominator the larger the piece
• fractions are like division

If your child has not yet mastered their math facts, be sure to practice nightly!

Geometry
We will have our first flipped geometry workshop today and will focus on lines, rays, and angles!  Week 2 is assigned in their Math Google Classroom, and the assignment can also be accessed here.  This coming week students will understand angles and unit angles.  It is imperative that students complete their homework prior to math workshop on Fridays!

Social Studies
This week we focused on MO becoming a state and the MO Compromise!

Science
The Ninjas continued in their Weather and Water unit with Ms. Hof.

Reading
Students continued to research the American Revolution and their subtopics.  Skills we focused on this week include:

• rereading sources for details
• synthesizing across texts
• planning skits to teach others about their subtopics

Please remember to read 30 minutes nightly!

Writing
In writing, we are using what we are learning from our research in reading to write informational books about the American Revolution!  Students wrote two chapters of their books this week:

• Chapter 1: All About the American Revolution
• Chapter 2: All About Their Subtopics

I have resources on the blog in our Reading and Writing tab if you are interested in helping your child to research more about their subtopics!

Upcoming Dates

• 1/22: Library Checkout
• 1/26: PTO Movie Night
• 2/1: Library Checkout
• 2/7: Late Start; 11:05 start
• 2/9: Daddy Daughter Dance (flier went home Thursday)
• 2/14: Valentine Parties 2:40-3:40
• 2/16: No School; Records Day

Weekly Update - January 12

Hello!  Check out what we've been up to this week...

Math
This week in our Rational Numbers unit mathematicians worked on investigating and problem solving dividing sub sandwiches into groups.  The big idea of fractions we learned about are:

• you can think of fractions as division
• when naming a piece, the whole matters (1/2, 1/3, 1/4...)
• the size of the whole matters

Please remember to practice math facts!

Geometry

Please refer to the parent letter that went home Thursday about our Geometry unit.  Students will be participating in flipped lessons.  The Week 1 assignment is due by next Friday.  Instructions on how to access Pearson were sent home as well.  All assignments will be located in Google Classroom and emailed out to parents.  This coming week we will focus on Lines, Rays, and Angles!

Social Studies
In our Westward Expansion unit, students reviewed the Louisiana Purchase and began to investigate and question why people move

Science
The Ninjas started their Water unit with Ms. Hof this past Thursday!

Reading
In our current nonfiction unit students are researching the American Revolution.  Skills we focused on included:

• how to launch a research project and list subtopics
• how to identify the structure of a texts
• how to take notes effectively

Please remember to read nightly!

Writing
We used our writing block to refresh independent reading expectations.  On Friday we launched our next writing unit.  We will be writing an informational text about the American Revolutions!

Upcoming Dates

• 1/15: No School
• 1/19: Geometry Week 1 Assignment due
• 1/22: Library checkout
• 2/1: Library checkout

Jar of Life

During our class meeting today we discussed making time for the things that really matter in your life.  To help facilitate this conversation, I showed our students this video.  You may find it interesting to watch and discuss it with your child at home.  I was impressed with a lot of the "big rocks" they shared at the end!

Weekly Update 1/5

Good morning!  It was a short week, and we spent a lot of time getting back into the swing of things.

Math
Mathematicians completed their second math benchmark.  They also started to learn how to add fractions mentally.

Social Studies
The Ninjas spent time reviewing the Louisiana Purchase before we begin our Westward Expansion unit next week.

Science
The Ninjas will be starting their Water unit with Ms. Hof on Thursday of next week.

Reading
Readers reviewed reading workshop expectations and ways to stay engaged by:

• choosing a perfect reading spot
• retelling to jump back in when they lose focus

Writing

Writers worked to review writing workshop expectations and completed the pre-assessment for our next informational writing unit we will begin next week.

Upcoming Dates

• 1/8: Library Checkout
• 1/10: Late Start; 11:05 start
• 1/15: No School